Beyond Literary Landscapes—Hubris

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge.  Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.

From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics.  Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column?  Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.

Who

This week’s column focuses on the theme of hubris.  Hubris can be defined as “exaggerated pride or self-confidence.”  Authors who focused on this theme include Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, and Herman Melville.

What

Some examples of hubris in literature include Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, and Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

Where

These works take place in the United Kingdom and the eastern United States.

When

These texts take place in the 17th, 18th, and 20th-centuries.

Why

These works could be of interest to AU learners who enjoy learning about the psychology of humanity and why personality traits, such as hubris exist.  This topic could also be of interest to AU ENGL students who would like to trace the evolution of this theme throughout the centuries and across various geographical spaces.

How

AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth.  Courses related to hubris are available in a variety of disciplines, including those that may fit into your Degree Works.  (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)

AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 395: The Nineteenth-Century English Novel, a six credit, senior-level course, which “introduces the student to some of the major English novels of the nineteenth century.”  (Please note that this course requires ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays as prerequisites).